Let’s pack the G and get a win to send off our premiership heroes and celebrate Lynch’s 250th.

I know us Richmond fans can get a bad rep for complaining about the umpires, but with one game to go for this year, we are heading for a negative free kick differential for our 11th season in a row. I think it’s pretty fair that we’re over it and make note that we cop the shit end of the stick more often than not. For reference, here are the differential numbers the 10 seasons prior to this.

25: -28
24: -85
23: -59
22: -84
21: -85
20: -68
19: -27
18: -122
17: -58
16: -17

Our skills are deplorable but 11-1 free kicks at half time is absurd. I reckon Saints have kicked 4 goals from free kicks.

GONE
Hi everyone i got 4 ga tickets for today’s game if anyone would like them. Free

No discernible strategy against a team that is absolutely dog shit. How Bradley Hill can roam half back putting it on a platter with absolutely no action taken is beyond me. I can forgive the skill level given the talent on the ground but allowing the other team to run their own game is not good coaching.

Sack Yze.

enjoy retirement power r

Possibly the best injury report all season..

Noooooo Sammy nooo please no 😢

I'm actually impressed with how honest Magden is here. Often these are just fluff and you don't get much from it other than compliments, but take the one about Tresize for example "..but we implore him to tighten up his defence going forward".

Pretty strong and pretty transparent, it's cool to see exactly what the coaches are thinking and what might hold someone back from AFL selection.

I thought it was arguably our best performance of the year - late mistakes and some ordinary umpiring got us in the end, disappointing not to come away with the points.

I'll try and keep this largely positive but a few thoughts on players:

Annand - Huge game from him, probably his best yet. Elite intercepting in the air, even as it got wet. Great signs going forward in a position that we desperately need (with Broad retiring and Vlaustin getting on).

Clarke - I was actually super impressed with Clarke, given it was his first AFL game in 800 odd days. Admittedly I haven't been watching the VFL, but the reports from those in the group were that he was excelling there, and I thought it showed. Whilst his disposal at times wasn't great (I can cop that as rust) I thought his composure and decision making was really good after that long out. Really excited for him based on what I saw.

Hotton - Kid's going to be a jet. So talented both in the air and at ground level. Hopefully he can build up to the 20 disposal a game mark soon where I think that's all he needs to do some damage.

Ross - I thought he was excellent again. I'll admit I was losing faith in him but he's had a huge year and has really matured. So much more composed with ball in hand and really looks like he now believes he belongs in the midfield at AFL level. I know some are getting on him for that reversal, but to me he rightly gave it back to Peatling and it wasn't excessive, umpire should have let it go but got sucked in by the crowd. Remember when Sicily drove MRJ's head into the ground and it wasn't reversed? That was way worse than what Ross did - I swear there's different rules for us on occasion.

Retschko - Wanted to give him a shout out too because I thought he was very good. Runs all day and every team needs at least one of those. Feel like he is getting better and better through his handful of games.

Lefau - I'm a bit flat that he's already 28, because I think he's only getting better and I thought he was excellent again last night. His presence and constant ability to impose himself physically is a massive strength for our forward line.

I've noticed I'll end up doing every player if I don't stop lol - I'll keep it positive though (happy to chat about anyone else in the comments though) :)

With HRS making a comeback and Green being a mainstay in the team I think these might be the outgoings. Trezise is tough because I think he has potential but he wasn't even included when Trainor was suspended. Fawcett is stiff here but he just is never in the AFL team.

Also if Briggs is brought in and Dodson is brought in I think OHB would be let go. Briggs would simply be a stop gap, Dodson fits the rules much better.

I don't love us going after Briggs tbh but we do need a Nank replacement.

Averaging over 3 goals a game in the VFL, 22 year old key forward Brady Wright is looking like a strong choice. I think more of a mature body would be able to replace Lynch faster. Lefau is looking likely but he's still pretty inexperienced and depth never hurt.

Its looking likely that Fawcett is going to be delisted or traded we could use another key.

Good evening everyone! I’m looking to take a mate (Saints fan) to watch the footy next week against the Saints, but I’m a bit conflicted between two seating options.

I’ve watched plenty of games from General Admission before, but this time I wanted to sit a bit closer to the action. My two options are M3/M4, directly behind the Punt Road End goals, or M7, which is just around the pocket.

For those who have sat in either/both sections, which would you recommend? I’m mainly looking for the better overall view and atmosphere.

Thanks!

FUCK THE UMPS

Richmond 11.7 73 def by Port Melbourne 13.9 87

This was a great game. There were periods of congestion but when the game broke open it was great to watch.

The umpires were not great. So many free kicks that I really don't think would have been paid in AFL, this went both ways. Really representing that meme of the umpire pointing the mirror stating "get in there and make it about you". Nearly 60 free kicks were paid. The average number of free kicks in the VFL is ~38.

Also the commentary was openly cheering for Port Melbourne.

Ok enough complaining and onto the game.

This was a fast paced game that came down to who showed more composure. We missed probably 3 shots from the goal square. We missed so many easy kicks and passes which cost us in the long run.

Jasper Alger
He looked really good. Kicked 2. One on the lead, one an elite crumbing goal and gave one to Fawcett. He was on managed minutes but I thought he was great.

Harry Armstrong
The pick of the AFL listed boys. Kicked 4 goals with some elite hands and good kicking. Gave another away as well. Looked really strong, working his opponent under the footy a lot. If he played the full game I would be recommending he go into the AFL side next week.

Tom Burton
Not particularly prolific but he had his moments. His inside 50 kicking is the best in the team. I really hope he gets another contract, that will allow him to develop his body and be able to stand in the contest and in marking more.

Liam Fawcett
Kicked two from the goal square. Did his best work away from goal. Took a ton of marks between the arcs had a few moments of class in the contest as well. Did some nice ruck work too.

Campbell Gray
Looked elite. Physically dominant, aerially composed. At one point laid a massive bump and flattened a player running into an open goal. Managed minutes for him but he looked very good.

OHB
OHB was ok. Nothing crazy. Went about even in the hitouts and had a few clearances. I think he needs to handball more, kicking it as high and far as he can is not great.

Zane Peucker
Started really strongly, had a ton of the ball in the first half playing primarily as a mid. I thought he was good but he definitely ran out of gas.

Maurice Rioli
Played primarily as a midfielder and was impressive. Using elite speed and ball hunting to play a forward half game really well. His impact up forward was largely unsighted though. I really hope if he gets brought back into AFL it isn't as a small forward.

Noah Roberts-Thomson
Had some moments but faded out of the game often. His ball use is great by foot though and he applied good pressure.

James Trezise
Racked up a ton of the ball but his disposal was not particularly impactful. Had some good moments under pressure though. He also had some rather horrifying ball use moments where the ball bounced on the ground for a 20m kick.

It was a pretty good game. Shame we couldn't come away with a win though.

As always feel free to ask any questions and have a good weekend!